Stanford Grads Near $1 Billion Value for Driverless Trucks

(Bloomberg) -- Sequoia-backed PlusAI Inc. is close to raising about $200 million in new funds at a valuation of more than $1 billion to bankroll its development in autonomous trucks, according to people familiar with the matter.

The self-driving truck startup is working with advisers on the funding round with plans to set up a joint venture with one of the country’s largest truck makers FAW Jiefang, a subsidiary of state-owned China FAW Group Co., the people said. Plus.AI is seeking external investors to lead this round of funding, in which existing backers Sequoia China and Full Truck Alliance will participate, said one of the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private.

The Cupertino-based startup will soon unveil trucks with partially automated driving features, or so-called level 2 autonomous vehicles, the person said.

Founded by a group of Stanford classmates in 2016, Plus.AI counts China’s largest truck-sharing platform -- Full Truck Alliance Group -- as its external shareholder. It’s set up research centers in Cupertino and Beijing, as it tests prototypes in eastern China’s Jiangsu province as well as California. The company joins a handful of startups trying to up-end a fragmented long-haul trucking business with driverless technology.

A representative for Sequoia declined to comment, while representatives for Plus.AI, Full Truck Alliance and FAW Jiefang said they have no immediate comment.

In driverless systems, level 5 refers to the highest degree of automation, whereas level 2 refers to systems that provide steering, brake, acceleration support, as well as lane centering and adaptive cruise control.

Three-year-old Plus.AI’s goal is to develop autonomous trucks that it can mass-produce and put to commercial use in coming years, the company said in March. It hopes to market the cars in both China and the U.S.

Plus.AI has a tie-up with chipmaker Nvidia Corp., and plans to use the U.S. company’s technology to operate its trucking fleet, it has said.

--With assistance from Tian Ying.

To contact the reporters on this story: Vinicy Chan in New York at vchan91@bloomberg.net;Lulu Yilun Chen in Hong Kong at ychen447@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net, Fion Li, Edwin Chan

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.